Carpet sweeper



Aug. 13, 1935. E w EN 2,011,261

CARPET SWEEPER Filed Jan. 8, 1932 INVENTOR TTORNEYS Fred W Fu/fegzPatented Aug. 13, 1935 UNITED STATES CARPET SWEEPER Fred W. Pullen,Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor to Bissell Carpet Sweeper 00., GrandRapids,

Mich.

Application January 8, 1932, Serial No. 585,421

I 9 Claims.

The objects of the invention are:

First, to provide an improved spring structure for applying pressure tothe Wheels'in the broom action.

Second, to provide in such a structure an improved arrangement ofequalizing means for the spring and floor wheels.

- Third, to provide such a structure which can I be made as a unitarydevice for attachment to Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a carpet sweeperembodying the features of my invention, the buffer band and bumpercorners being omitted. Fig. 2 is anelevation view of the detached springand equalizer unit looking from the inside out, the floor wheels beingomitted.

Fig. 3 is a detail plan View of the unitary structure with the wheelspresent.

Fig. 4 is a detail plan View of the end bar,the spring support andslideway, the spring, the slide, the equalizing levers, journal pins,fulcrum pins, floor wheels, and the floor wheel axles in separatedrelation. I

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional elevationon line 55 of Fig. 2, showingtheswiveling action .of the spring in its holder.

The parts will be identified by their numerals of reference which arethe same in all the views.

I is the carpet sweeper case. 2 is the handle bail and 3 is the bailpivot plate secured to the end of the case. 4, 4 are the projecting sidebars of the case. 5 is the deflectable end guard bar of thin metalhaving extensions 5|, 5| at each side for attachment to the side bars 4,4 of the case. The usual deflectable end guard bar is spaced from theend of the case to house the floor wheels and equalizer structure.

6 is the spring support suitably riveted to the guard bar and having avertical slideway 6| formed at the center. I is the spring retained byclip parts 62. 62 on the spring support 6, so that the same pivotsfreely therein axially. Central offset H of spring I is disposed betweenthe clips 62, 62 and effectively locates the spring centrally of itssupport. The support 6 is curved slightly inwardly toward the end of thecase.

8, 8 are the floor wheels supported on floating axles 9, 9 supported inenlarged apertures in the end walls of the case in the usual manner.Equalizing levers l0 and H slotted at It", and.

.I I l, are carried by the guard bar 5, being supported by fulcrum pinsl2 and I3 which are shouldered and serve also as the connecting rivetsfor securing the spring support 6 to the guard bar 5. Transverse journalpins I4 and I5 are secured to the outer ends of the levers and engagebear.- ings in the'hubs 8|, 81 of the floor wheels 8, 8. The inner endsof the levers l0 and II contain slotted holes and cooperate with theshouldered brush journal pin 16 which iscarried on the slide H to whichit is riveted. The projecting end of the rivet extends into the verticalrecess 52 formed by a vertical indentation at the center of the guardbar 5.

Ball bearings in suitable casings l8 embrace each of. the hubs. 8|, BIand are provided with spring connecting, arms I9, I9 which are engagedby offset ends 12, 12 .on the spring 1. 20 is the brush, the hub ofwhich is engaged and driven by the floor wheels.

From this description it will be readily seen that when pressure isapplied to the carpet sweeper by its operating handle, the floor wheelswill yield in equalized relation, due to the presence of the equalizinglevers, the spring will act very freely because of its pivotal supportat the center, and a very smoothly operating carpet sweeper is thussecured. The pivoting of the spring is indicated diagrammatically inFig. 5.

The spring and equalizer assembly is unitary with the end bar, greatlyfacilitating its manufacture and making. it. very convenient to"as-.

semble into the completed carpet sweeper. The brush is removable in theusual way by deflecting the thin metal end bars 5 outwardly until thebrush pivots are withdrawn.

In this behalf I use the word equalize in the sense defined in TheCentury dictionary as meaning that which equalizes or makes equal.

My improved structure is capable of very considerable modification whilestill embodying valuable features of my invention. It is highlyeffective in its specific form. I desire to claim the specific featuresof the structure as I have described them in their special relations andI also desire to claim the organization and combination broadly aspointed out in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a carpet sweeper having at each end a bearing carried by avertically movable slide, a brush pulley mounted on said bearing,floating floor wheels at each side of and frictionally engaging saidbrush pulley, and levers each engaging said movable bearing and the hubof one of said floor wheels; an end member comprising a thin deflectableend bar of uniform cross-section and a center plate secured on the innerface thereof, said center plate having a parallel sided vertical slottherein forming a guide for said slide and an upper portion curled intoa horizontal tube adapted to rotatably support a rod spring pivctallyconnected to said floor wheels.

2. In a carpet sweeper having at each end a bearing carried by avertically movable slide, a brush pulley mounted on said bearing,floating floor wheels at each side of and frictionally engaging saidbrush pulley, and levers each engaging said movable bearing and the hubof one of said floor wheels; an end member comprising a thin deflectableend bar of uniform cross-section and a center plate secured on the innerface thereof, said center plate having a parallel sided vertical slottherein forming a guide for said slide and an upper portion supporting ared spring connected to said floor wheels.

3. In a carpet sweeper having at each end a bearing carried by avertically movable slide, a brush pulley mounted on said bearing,floating floor Wheels at each side of and frictionally cngaging saidbrush pulley, and levers each engag ing said movable bearing and the hubof one of said floor wheels; an end member comprising a deflectable endbarand a center plate secured on the inner face thereof, said centerplate having a vertical guideway therein for said slide and an upperportion curled into a horizontal tube adapted to rotatably support a rodspring pivotally connected to said floor wheels.

4.. In a carpet sweeper having at each end a bearing carried by avertically movable slide, a brush pulley mounted on said bearing,floating floor wheels at each side of and frictionally en-' gaging saidbrush pulley, and levers each. engaging said movable bearing and the hubof one of said floor wheels; an end member comprising a deflectable endbar and a center plate secured on the inner face thereof, said centerplate having a vertical guideway therein'for said slide and an upperportion supporting a spring connected to said floor wheels.

5. In a carpet sweeper having at each end a brush pulley, a guide memberrotatably engaging saidbrush pulley, floating floor wheels at each sideof and frictionally engaging said brush pulley, and equalizing leverseach engaging said guide member and the hub of one of said floor wheels;an end member comprising a thin deflectable end bar and a center platesecured on the inner face thereof, said center plate having a parallelsided vertical slot therein forming a guide for said guide member, andan upper portion curled into a horizontal tube adapted to rotatablysupport a rod spring pivctally connected to said floor wheels.

6. In a carpet sweeper having at each end a brush pulley, a guide memberrotatably engaging said brush pulley, floating floor wheels at each sideof and frictionally engaging said brush pulley, and equalizing leverseach engaging said guide member and the hub of one of said floor wheels;an end member comprising a thin deflectable end bar and a center platesecured on the inner face thereof, said center plate having a parallelsided vertical slot therein forming a guide for said guide member, andan upper portion supporting a rod spring connected to said fi'corwheels.'

7. In a carpet sweeper, the combination of a case having extended sidebars and a thin deflectable metallic end guard bar, a central upwardlyand inwardly curved spring support carried by the end bar, a removablefloor brush disengageable by the deflection of said end bar, floorWheels supported by suitable floating axles to drive said brush, bearingmembers surrounding the hubs of said wheels and each having a projectingspring arm for spring connection, and a rod spring pivotally supportedby the said spring support so that it may pivot axially and having itsends engaging said spring arms.

8. In a carpet sweeper, the combination of a case, a deflectable endbar, a central spring support carried by said bar, a removable floorbrush disengageable by the deflection of said end bar, floor wheelssupported by suitable floating axles to drive said brush, and a straightrod spring pivotally supported by the said spring support so that it maypivot axially with its ends connected to supply pressure to the floorwheels.

9. In a carpet sweeper having a brush with brush supporting slide, thecombination of the deflectable thin metal end guard bar and a centralspring support fastened to and. carried by the said guard bar andprovided with a vertical guideway for the brush supporting slide;

FRED W. PULLEN.

